Seau finding sure to spark concern at high school level

Last May, after the suicide of former San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau, I wrote an article (http://www.azcentral.com/sports/asu/articles/2012/05/08/20120508junior-seau-suicide-igniting-converation-dangers-of-football.html) quoting parents of high school athletes and younger children who were having second thoughts about their kids playing football.

The findings this week that Seau had a degenerative brain disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) will only reaffirm those fears. More and more, there is persuasive evidence that the head trauma caused by playing football can affect a player the rest of his life – or shorten this life.

I wouldn’t presume to tell parents whether or not their kids should play football. I will say this, though: I think the sport is far safer today because we know so much more about concussions. Particularly at the high school level, great precautions are taken to make sure athletes are symptom free before they can play again.

Does that mean football is safe? No. But my guess is that we’ll be hearing fewer stories like Seau in the next 10 to 20 years because of the precautions being taken today.

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